Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 3, 1935. R. G. OSBORN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan.5l, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l A A W A V n hlw s wm w @im i i i mmmvw Q Dec.3, Rl G, OSBORN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 3l, 1927Sheets-Sheet gn vente?,

551# Sr/MAMA' @Hoz new Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEApplication January 31, 1927, Serial No. 164,750 Renewed May 24, 19304mm. (Cl. 137-104) The present invention relates to refrigeratingapparatus and more particularly to the control of the flow ofrefrigerant into an evaporator.

One of the objects of the present invention 5 is to provide meansincluding a valve for controlling the passage of fluid into a vessel,such as an evaporator, said valve being removable from the vesselWithout disassembling the evaporator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a iloat operatedvalve for a refrigerant evaporator, the valve being provided withadjusting means which may be manipulated from the exterior withoutremoving or disconnecting the refrigerant duct from said evaporator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 1s a fragmentary cross sectional view in a vertical plane of anevaporator with the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view in a vertical plane of aportion of the evaporator showing the present invention on an enlargedscale;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.

2 Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig.

; and

Fig. 5 is a view showing the evaporator connected with a refrigeratingsystem.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Fig. 5, 20 designates acompressor driven by an electric motor 22. The gas to be compressedenters through pipe 23 and is expelled through a pipe 24. The compressedrefrigerant passes through a condenser 25 in which it is cooled in anysuitable manner, `and from which condensed refrigerant passes into theevaporator 26. The gaseous contents of the evaporator is drawn into thecompressor 20 throughpipe 23.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2. the evaporator 26comprises a header 30 having an end cover 3| attached thereto by bolts32. The end cover 3| is provided with an inwardly extending hollow boss33 providing an inlet duct 34, the e`nd of which is providedwith arelatively small opening 35 and a valve seat 36. A valve 31 cooperateswith the valve seat 36 and has a stem 38 extending through the opening35. The valve 31 has .ears 39 formed thereon (see Fig. 4) which restsagainst the side walls of the duct 34 to hold the valve 31 in alignmentwith valve seat 36. The duct 34 of the boss 33 extends through theopposite end of the end cover 3| and is enlarged and has screw- 5threaded walls to receive a coupling 40 which forms a continuation ofthe inlet duct and is connected to the pipe 24. f

An adjusting nut 4| is threaded upon an adjusting stem 42 located in theelbow coupling 10 40. Adjusting stem 42 extends to the exterior ofcoupling 40 through an opening 43 provided therein. Adjusting nut 4| isslotted at 44 to receive a pin 45 which is secured to the coupling 40and prevents turning of the nut 4|. An en- 15 largement 46 formed on theadjusting stem 42 is adapted to rest against a seat 41 provided in thecoupling 40 to seal the opening 43. Threaded portion 48 oi the stem 42extends through the valve opening 43 in coupling 40 to receive a nut 2049 which may be tightened against the wall of coupling 40 to seatenlargement 46 on its seat 41 thereby, sealing the opening 43 incoupling n 40. The end of stem 42 beyond threaded portion 46 is squaredas at 50 to receive a key for 25 turning the stem 42 to adjust the nut4|. A y spring 5| is interposed between valve 31 and adjusting nut 4|and normally tends to maintain the valve 31 upon its seat 36. The cover3| is provided with an opening 52 which receives an 30 inwardlyextending pipe 53 connected in any suitable manner to a coupling 54.

A valve controlling device such as a float lever 55 is pivoted at 56 tothe boss 33 and carries a float 51. Lever 55 has a downwardly project-35 ing arm 58 which is adapted to engage the stem 36 of valve 31 to movethe valve away from the seat 36 whereby, refrigerant will pass throughopening 35 into the header. After the level of liquid refrigerant Withinthe header 3U rises 40 to a certain height, the arm 58 of lever 55 willmove out of engagement with the stem 38, permitting the valve 31 to bereturned to its seat 36 by the spring 5|.

It'will be apparent from the foregoing de- 45 scription that certainadvantages are present in the present invention. 'I'he height of theliquid level within header can be controlled from the exterior of headerwithout disconnecting any of the refrigerant ducts from evaporator. Thisfea- 50 ture is present because the spring pressure applied by spring 5|to the valve 36 may be adjusted while the system is in operation.

The parts withinthe duct 34 and the coupling 4I comprising the valve andvalve adjusting 55 means may be removed readily v'vithout disassemblingthe evaporator. After the condenser pipe 25 is disconnected from thecoupling 4D, the latter is unscrewed from the header cover 3|. The parts45, 4I, 42 and 49 are removed while assembled with the coupling 40. Thenthe spring 5I and valve plunger 31 may be removed. In this wayreplacements and repairs may be easily effected.

The control for refrigerating apparatus herein disclosed may be usedwith any refrigerant container of a refrigerating apparatus, whethersaid container is an evaporator or some other type of refrigerantreservoir.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes apreferred embodiment of one form of invention, it is to be understoodthat other forms might be adopted and Various changes and alterationsmade in the shape, size and proportion of the elements therein Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A control for a closed refrigerating system comprising incombination, a refrigerant container having an inlet duct, a valve, avalve controlling device located Within the container, said ductincluding a coupling, valve adjusting means associated with the valveand carried by the coupling, said means including a portion within thecoupling and an adjusting member extending thru an opening in a wall ofthe coupling and accessible from the exterior of the closed system, saidcoupling and valve adjusting means being removable from the containerindependently of the controlling device, said valve being removable fromthe exterior of the container.

2. A control for a closed refrigerating system comprising in combinationa refrigerant container having an inlet duct, a valve assembly includinga valve and valve adjusting means, a valve controlling device locatedwithin the container, said duct including a coupling, said valveadusting means being associated with the valve and carried by thecoupling, said means including a portion within the coupling and anadjusting member extending thru an opening in a Wall of the coupling andaccessible from the exterior of the closed system, said coupling andvalve assembly being removable from the container independently of thecontrolling device.

3. A control for a closed refrigerating system comprising, incombination, a refrigerant container having an inlet duct, a valve, avalve controlling device located Within the container, said ductincluding a coupling, valve adjusting means located Within the couplingand associated with the valve, said means comprising an adjusting memberextending thru an opening in the Wall of the coupling, said adjustingmember includu ing means for closing the opening in said coupling, saidcoupling and valve adjusting means being removable from the closedsystem independently of the controlling device.

4. A control for a closed refrigerating system comprising, incombination, a refrigerant container having an inlet duct, a valveassembly including a valve and valve adjusting means, a valvecontrolling device located Within the container, said duct including acoupling, said valve adjusting means being located within the couplingand associated with the valve, said valve adjusting means comprising anadjusting member extending thru an opening in the wall of the coupling,said adjusting member including 35

